The modern beauty industry has developed a huge number of products to combat various skin imperfections. One of such agents is kojic acid - a substance that effectively eliminates skin pigmentation and freckles. If you are the owner of such skin changes, then our article will be useful to you.
What kind of substance?
Kojic acid is an effective tool whose action is aimed at whitening the skin. Acid is obtained from fungi growing on the lands of Japan: Aspergillus, Aerobacter and Penicillum; it is one of the components of mushroom metabolism. It is actively added to the composition of many cosmetic creams for whitening.
By its nature, the acid looks like a bleached crystalline powder that is not resistant to water. He is able to suspend the production of melanin. If you look at the composition of such creams, you can see that the amount of acid does not exceed 4%. The thing is that this substance can cause an allergic reaction, and a concentration of more than 4% will cause irritation and skin rashes.
Kojic acid is unstable to daylight and is quite rapidly destroyed when stored improperly.
Why do age spots and freckles appear?
A special pigment, melanin, affects skin color. Its amount determines the shade of the dermis. Internal changes in the body, as well as external environmental influences, can alter the amount of melanin. For example, tanning enthusiasts observe a change in the color of their skin with prolonged exposure to the sun or after being in a tanning bed. The skin becomes darker, acquire a golden or bronze hue. But with liver diseases, the epidermis turns yellow.
If melanin is produced unevenly, then spots appear on the body that are significantly different from the rest of the skin. What can provoke such a pigmented disorder?
- Impaired metabolism.
- Liver Disorders
- Change in hormonal levels due to pregnancy, puberty.
- Diseases of the skin, such as seborrhea, acne, etc.
- Stress.
- Antibiotics.
- Ultraviolet from frequent exposure to the sun or in a solarium.
- Aging process.
- Failure of the gastrointestinal tract.
Kojic acid is an essential component used in skin rejuvenation cosmetics. Before proceeding to whitening, a doctor’s consultation is necessary, since treatment of the root causes leading to a defect may be required, and only after that proceed with the cosmetic procedure.
Brown spots are a consequence of external and internal influences. But why do freckles appear? The reason for this skin feature is a genetic predisposition. We can say that freckles are a disease of hereditary nature. Such people with freckles have pale skin and often (but not necessarily) red hair color. The appearance of spots aggravates in the spring.
The spots on the face can be of different shades: from light to dark. It depends on the depth of their formation: the closer to the outer layer, the brighter. This factor will affect the way the dermis is whitened. Cleaning can be superficial or deep.
Acid in cosmetics
Pigmentation creams are guaranteed to whiten skin darkening. But how is this process carried out when the cream comes in contact with the skin?
When the sun's rays penetrate deep into the epidermis, the formation of melanin is activated, and in high concentration. The consequence of this is tanning - the darkening of the upper layer of the dermis. Kojic acid stops the process of pigment production, since it contains a tyrosinase enzyme blocker, which is necessary for the synthesis of melanin.
Acidic Cosmetics
Kojic acid is very effective in pigmentation. It is actively used in Japanese cosmetics. And not only in the salon, but also at home. When preparing home cosmetics, the concentration of the substance varies from 0.1% to 1%. In the industrial production of cosmetics, its concentration does not exceed 4%. It should be noted that the whitening effect does not depend on the amount of added acid, and its excessive concentration will cause an allergic reaction.
On sale it is possible to find several varieties of skin whitening products:
- Soap.
- Scrubs.
- Serum.
- Gels.
- Cream.
The main feature of such products is their short shelf life, since kojic acid is rapidly destroyed in the sun. Professional cosmetics used in salons are very popular. Its cost is slightly higher, but its additional components gently affect the skin with acid peeling for the face.
Contraindications
The desire to make your skin perfect, getting rid of age spots and freckles, sometimes makes women neglect contraindications. But when using a cream with kojic acid, care must be taken.
To avoid undesirable consequences, it is forbidden to use whitening cosmetics if:
- there is acne, herpes, infectious diseases;
- scratches, open wounds;
- diseases of vascular insufficiency;
- there is a predisposition to allergies;
- with sensitive skin.
In pursuit of beauty, one must not forget about caution.
Effective result
Soap, serum, cream from pigmentation will give a positive result. Therefore, if there are no contraindications, feel free to purchase a suitable remedy. Using cosmetics with kojic acid, you can permanently get rid of freckles, age spots, associated with age-related changes, diseases.
Use cosmetics necessary course. Its duration is more than 1 month (depending on the drug that is used). Noticeable results will be visible after 4 weeks of its use. Acid peeling for the face is carried out in a course of 7-10 procedures, but because of its aggressive effect on the skin, a break between 1 and 2 procedures should be six months.
An important condition is the use of sunscreens with whitening products in the summer. Exposure to sunlight and, as a result, tanning is contraindicated, otherwise there will be no effect from the procedures.
What other effects does the acid have on the skin?
Whitening is the main property of kojic acid. But, in addition to this, the substance is able to have the following effects on the epidermis:
- Slowing down the production of tyrosinase enzyme.
- Obstruction of the reproduction of microbes.
- Peeling - removal of keratinized skin layer.
- It forms an ionic bond of iron, necessary for the formation of melanin.
- Antioxidant effect.
- Long lasting whitening effect.
- Reduces the risk of sunburn.
It is interesting!
As already mentioned, the substance is obtained from a certain type of mushroom that grows in the Land of the Rising Sun. It was in Japan that kojic acid was first used in whitening cosmetics.
The component was obtained very simply: in the manufacture of Japanese alcoholic sake. Acid was only a by-product, which found a different use. It is noteworthy that in Switzerland kojic acid does not have the necessary license for cosmetological use. And such distrust of her is caused by the negative effect on the skin of her "brother" - hydroquinone.
This substance has a similar mode of action on the skin and eliminates hated spots and freckles. However, in the course of scientific research, its toxicity was revealed, which adversely affects the condition of the skin. In addition, hydroquinone not only stops the production of melanin, but also leads to a change in the structure of melanocytes - cells that produce pigment. Despite the similarity of hydroquinone and kojic acid, the second is absolutely harmless to the skin (if used in an acceptable concentration).
In addition to cosmetology, acid is used in the food industry. One of its properties is color fastening, which is why it is used to preserve the presentation of some products, for example, eggs, fruits, etc.
In conclusion
If you are concerned about the question “Why do freckles, age spots appear, and how to get rid of them?”, Then use the information above.
Do not forget: before proceeding with the procedure of whitening the face, care must be taken. It is better to consult a qualified cosmetologist. And the bleaching procedure is recommended to be carried out in the salon.